Clearing the Air and Future Preparations

I’ve been a bit busy these past few days and haven’t really been checking,” Bai Jingjing said, tilting her head. “Has someone been looking for me?

She was, after all, a fairly well-known artist within the group, having taken on commissions from several members whose works were widely circulated among them.

“Not exactly, but many people are questioning me,” Luo Xuan told her. “They believe my previous act of recruiting a temporary girlfriend in the group was merely a pretense, and that I was actually looking for someone for myself.”

Bai Jingjing paused for a moment. “Why would they think that?”

“I, I wouldn’t know.”

Luo Xuan, of course, knew better; it was all the doing of that precocious loli, Lemon.

She understood that children didn’t know any better, but the group members didn’t; seeing how earnestly Lemon spoke, many genuinely believed her.

Luo Xuan was still a bit bothered by the matter, for the group members kept discussing it, and she… had indeed acted exactly as they claimed.

Though she had always told herself it was all for her best friend, she was, after all, living with Bai Jingjing daily, holding her while sleeping at night, enduring her playful nibbles (TL Note: A playful Chinese internet slang, ‘xiǎo nǎo hǔ yǎo zhe’, implying affectionate, light bites or teasing actions, often used in intimate contexts.), and even occasionally going on dates.

In a practical sense, Bai Jingjing had already become her girlfriend.

Since the claims held some truth, she felt the need to clarify the rumors.

“So, Sister Luo, you’d like me to explain?”

The perceptive Bai Jingjing understood at once.

“Yes, that’s the idea. I mostly wanted to ask if it would be convenient for you,” Luo Xuan said, nervously fiddling with her fingers. “If you’re able to, you could help me explain; if not, then don’t worry about it.”

Her words were a bit subtle, yet Bai Jingjing understood them instantly.

“It’s fine, I haven’t cultivated any particular persona online, so I don’t have those concerns,” she said, picking up her phone and opening QQ. “It’s a small matter.”

The daily routine in Lily Garden remained unchanged; occasionally someone would post a few yuri lewd images (TL Note: ‘Yuri’ refers to a genre depicting romantic or sexual relationships between female characters, and ‘lewd images’ are sexually suggestive pictures.), but most of the time, group members exchanged hugs and kisses, engaged in casual literary role-playing (TL Note: ‘Literary role-playing’ refers to text-based role-playing, often with a focus on narrative and character development, while ‘casual’ implies it’s not overly serious or high-quality.), chatted about games, or fanatically obsessed over a beautiful female game character.

It was then that the renowned Miss Eylla, a prominent figure in the circle, spoke up.

[Eylla: Alright, the person you’ve been asking for is here. Let her tell you herself that I am innocent.]

[They’re here? Who, who, who? Which one?]

[Quick, let us see.]

[Eylla: @Xiaobai]

Seeing Luo Xuan’s message, Bai Jingjing quickly responded.

[Xiaobai: It’s me. Thank you, Sister Eylla, for introducing me to the job.]

Luo Xuan had just reminded her to act a bit unfamiliar, so as not to expose their cohabitation.

The group members were greatly astonished.

[Ah, what? It’s actually Madam Xiaobai.]

[Madam Xiaobai rarely appears; who knew she’d quietly just…]

[Wait, does that mean Madam Xiaobai is a super beautiful girl with a ‘gorgeous face, fair skin, large chest, long legs, and a slender waist’?]

The group members still vividly remembered the stringent requirements Luo Xuan had posted when she first announced the recruitment in the group.

[@Xiaobai, Madam Xiaobai, can we see you? Please reveal a photo (TL Note: ‘Bàozhào’ is a Chinese internet slang term meaning to ‘reveal photos’ or ‘share personal pictures’, often in response to requests.).]

[Madam Xiaobai, let us see, we don’t mean anything else, we just want to see if you’re as lewd as your drawings… I mean, as beautiful.]

[Ahhh, Madam Xiaobai, I want to be your ()!]

Seeing the group chat gradually showing signs of getting out of hand, Luo Xuan quickly stepped in.

[Eylla: Go on, scram! She’s still my best friend’s girlfriend right now. That’s my 闺蜜 (TL Note: ‘Guimi’ is a Chinese term for a very close female friend or ‘bestie’.), so don’t chatter nonsense.]

Miss Eylla’s lingering authority still held sway in the circle, and after her words, the clamor in the group quieted significantly.

Just as Luo Xuan thought the matter was settled…

[Oh, so it’s your best friend’s girlfriend? The way you speak, it’s as if she’s your own girlfriend.]

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed that precocious loli, Lemon.

This wave of instigation (TL Note: ‘Jiézòu dài’ is a Chinese internet slang term referring to ‘setting the pace’ or ‘stirring up discussion/rumors’, often implying a deliberate attempt to manipulate public opinion or create hype.) didn’t have a very good effect, largely because Bai Jingjing had clarified the situation herself. Regardless of whether everyone believed it in their hearts, it simply wasn’t appropriate to spread such gossip directly when the person was right there.

Most of the people in the group were relatively unfamiliar to Bai Jingjing, with only a few who had commissioned her before being somewhat acquainted.

However, she did spot a somewhat familiar ID.

[Qingqing: .]

Teacher Liu Wanqing was also in the group at the moment, participating in the discussion about Bai Jingjing, even though she had only sent a single period.

In another two weeks, Bai Jingjing was scheduled to begin private tutoring with her, preparing for her summer enrollment.

Although (TL Note: A common Chinese internet slang phrase, ‘suīrán dànshì’, meaning ‘however’ or ‘nevertheless’, often used to introduce a caveat or slight contradiction.), Teacher Liu’s previous comic commission had been a bit problematic, so it was best to remain cautious.

Just then, Bai Jingjing suddenly received a friend request. Clicking on it, she saw it was from someone in the group named “Lemon.”

The name seemed familiar. Oh, right, she was the one who had just questioned Luo Xuan in the group.

After the other party added her, the chat box briefly displayed “is typing,” but Bai Jingjing waited for quite a while and still received no message.

A little later, Lemon simply went offline.

“Sister Luo, there’s someone in the group named Lemon; do you know her?” she inquired of Luo Xuan.

“You saw what she said just now, didn’t you? Sigh, that’s just how she is. She’s young, doesn’t understand anything, and only knows how to spout nonsense,” Luo Xuan explained briefly. “She’s quite familiar with our family, also from a prominent household, and she’s only in junior high.”

Unlike your youthful face, which makes you look like a junior high student, she’s a real loli.

Bai Jingjing suddenly understood; so, she was a rich loli.

In that case, she should definitely accept the friend request; perhaps Lemon would commission her for something in the future.

After lunch and a brief tidy-up, Luo Xuan inquired, “Bai Jingjing, what do you plan to do this week?”

Bai Jingjing pondered for a moment. “I’d like to review… or rather, pre-study, some general education course material.”

In two weeks, she would be going to Liu Wanqing’s home for tutoring, and while there would be a professional teacher, if she went completely unprepared and understood nothing, she would be too reliant on others.

Liu Wanqing exuded an imposing aura, which was dangerous. The trip to the Liu family was no small matter, requiring some preparation.

Fortunately, the general education courses required for art students were liberal arts, so cramming at the last minute (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘línshí bào fójiǎo’, literally ‘to embrace the Buddha’s feet in an emergency’, meaning to make a last-minute effort or to cram.) would still be effective. Unlike the formulas and content in sciences, where if you didn’t know it, you simply didn’t know it, no matter how much you studied.

“High school general education courses, huh?” Luo Xuan mused, cupping her chin in her hand for a moment. “I’ll go ask around and see if anyone has textbooks or notes.”

As for her own materials, she had already graduated from university; why would she still keep high school textbooks?

“Then I’ll trouble Sister Luo,” Bai Jingjing said, clasping her hands together. “Thank you very much.”

“It’s nothing, no trouble at all.” Luo Xuan nervously fiddled with her fingers again, then suggested, “Actually, I could also give you a little tutoring. I can still recall simple topics and principles, and at the very least, I can supervise you.”

After all, she had also spent three years in arduous study (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘sān nián hán chuāng’, literally ‘three years by a cold window’, referring to diligent and hard academic study.), so while she certainly couldn’t compare to Liu Wanqing, she could still be of some use.

“Okay.” Bai Jingjing readily accepted.

In the afternoon, Luo Xuan started calling for help in her various groups (TL Note: A Chinese internet slang term, ‘yáo rén’, meaning to ‘call for people’ or ‘ask for help from one’s network’.), and leveraging Miss Eylla’s formidable reputation, she quickly acquired the necessary books.